Chapter 22
Histochemical and Molecular Quantification of Arbuscular
Mycorrhiza Symbiosis
Juan M. Garcı ´a, Marı ´a J. Pozo, and Juan A. Lo ´ pez-Ra ´ ez
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are one of the most widespread and studied plant associations with beneficial
microorganisms. Indeed, more than 80% of land plants, including most agricultural and horticultural crop
species, are able to establish this mutualistic symbiosis with AM fungi. Through this association the fungus
helps the plant in the acquisition of water and mineral nutrients, especially under stress conditions. AM
symbiosis affects other ecologically and economically important traits such as plant architecture, flowering,
and fruit quality but also tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. As a consequence, AM fungi have a
great potential as biofertilizers and bioprotection agents in sustainable agriculture. However, in order to
take advantage of all these benefits, a good and functional symbiosis is required. Here we present methods
for reliable quantification of colonization levels which should be useful not only for research but also from
the agronomic point of view.
Key words Arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis, Mycorrhizal quantification, Histochemical staining,
Apocarotenoids, Liquid chromatography, Roots
1 Introduction
Among the beneficial microorganisms present in the rhizosphere,
AM fungi deserve special interest as they establish mutualistic associations with the roots of more than 80% of land plants, including
most agricultural and horticultural crop species [1]. This association dates back more than 400 million years ago, and it is considered a key component of the plant microbiome and crucial in plant
evolution [2, 3]. AM fungi are obligate biotrophs that depend on
plant carbon to complete their life cycle. In “compensation,” the
fungus helps the plant in the acquisition of water and mineral
nutrients, mainly phosphorus (Pi) and to a lesser extent nitrogen,
and other inorganic nutrients. In addition to a better mineral
nutrition and the corresponding increased plant growth, AM symbiosis affects other ecologically and economically important traits
such as plant architecture, flowering, fruit quality, tolerance against
Manuel Rodrı ´guez-Concepcio ´ n and Ralf Welsch (eds.), Plant and Food Carotenoids: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2083, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9952-1_22,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
293
Histochemical and Molecular Quantification of Arbuscular
Mycorrhiza Symbiosis
Juan M. Garcı ´a, Marı ´a J. Pozo, and Juan A. Lo ´ pez-Ra ´ ez
Abstract
Arbuscular mycorrhizae (AM) are one of the most widespread and studied plant associations with beneficial
microorganisms. Indeed, more than 80% of land plants, including most agricultural and horticultural crop
species, are able to establish this mutualistic symbiosis with AM fungi. Through this association the fungus
helps the plant in the acquisition of water and mineral nutrients, especially under stress conditions. AM
symbiosis affects other ecologically and economically important traits such as plant architecture, flowering,
and fruit quality but also tolerance against biotic and abiotic stresses. As a consequence, AM fungi have a
great potential as biofertilizers and bioprotection agents in sustainable agriculture. However, in order to
take advantage of all these benefits, a good and functional symbiosis is required. Here we present methods
for reliable quantification of colonization levels which should be useful not only for research but also from
the agronomic point of view.
Key words Arbuscular mycorrhiza symbiosis, Mycorrhizal quantification, Histochemical staining,
Apocarotenoids, Liquid chromatography, Roots
1 Introduction
Among the beneficial microorganisms present in the rhizosphere,
AM fungi deserve special interest as they establish mutualistic associations with the roots of more than 80% of land plants, including
most agricultural and horticultural crop species [1]. This association dates back more than 400 million years ago, and it is considered a key component of the plant microbiome and crucial in plant
evolution [2, 3]. AM fungi are obligate biotrophs that depend on
plant carbon to complete their life cycle. In “compensation,” the
fungus helps the plant in the acquisition of water and mineral
nutrients, mainly phosphorus (Pi) and to a lesser extent nitrogen,
and other inorganic nutrients. In addition to a better mineral
nutrition and the corresponding increased plant growth, AM symbiosis affects other ecologically and economically important traits
such as plant architecture, flowering, fruit quality, tolerance against
Manuel Rodrı ´guez-Concepcio ´ n and Ralf Welsch (eds.), Plant and Food Carotenoids: Methods and Protocols,
Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 2083, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-9952-1_22,
© Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature 2020
293